Spectorsoft Spector Pro Software: Need To Know What Your Kids Are Doing on the Computer?
Written: Jan 16 '06 (Updated Jan 17 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: good options, easy to configure and use, stealth operation
Cons: dangerous in the wrong hands
The Bottom Line: This is a great program to use for monitoring what your children (or anyone for that matter) are doing on the computer.
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Spectorsoft Spector Pro for PC |
Having teenagers is a unique experience. Even for someone like me who’s pretty computer savvy, it’s a challenge to know what they’re doing on the computer, especially when they begin minimizing windows whenever I happen to walk by.
I went in pursuit of something I could use to know what was being said and what sites she was visiting, not because I wanted to spy or violate her privacy, but because I was concerned for her safety.
Someone suggested Spector Pro software from Spectorsoft. At over $80, it was a pricey solution. However, the blurbs on the various websites described a program that would do exactly what I wanted it to do, record everything she does on the Internet.
Installation was simple as I followed the prompts. I had Spector Pro remove the installation files for the most stealth running of the program. I was prompted for a password so I could access the recorded files as well as if I wanted it to run in visible or stealth modes. Spector Pro then updated itself with the latest version of it’s software. The computer is restarted after the initial installation and any updates.
During the installation of Spector Pro, I was prompted to agree to the licensing agreement. In that, I agreed that I was installing Spector Pro on a single computer I had permission to install it to. This is important to understand as in the wrong hands, Spector Pro can be very dangerous. Someone could theoretically load it onto a computer without the owner’s knowledge and collect a lot of information involving passwords and financial information, then delete the program from the computer. I am sure there are other programs out there which are similar, so to me it served as a word of caution about whom I allow to use my computer, especially if I am not at home.
The first computer I put Spector Pro on was a Dell that was bought in 2001. That computer ran balky with it, despite the fact that it met all of the system requirements (listed below). If I still had it on and recording when my kids tried to power up some games, they would run slow or not at all. Some of the problem was the computer and some was Spector Pro. I would go in and stop the recording session so the games would run better, but sometimes that didn’t help either. I now have it on a HP computer I bought in 2005 and it hasn’t given me any trouble at all.
Accessing Spector Pro is done by using a series of keystrokes to bring up the password prompt. The keystrokes can be changed from the default setting. I keep it there because I never remember and have to go back to the packaging to find out how to access it. Once I am in I get a menu that clearly shows the various activities Spector Pro can/does record.
Spector Pro records all internet activity, including email sent and received, websites visited, chat and instant messenger, all keystrokes, programs used, any peer to peer activity (such as Kazaa), and screen snapshots. The settings option allows me to enable or disable any of these at will as well as deciding how many days of history to keep and the size of the file. If you’re not sure, Spector Pro will help you calculate average usage and then can be adjusted later on as the need warrants it.
I can use Spector Pro to limit activity on the internet to only during certain times if I’m worried about someone going online in the middle of the night or when I’m not home. I can also block certain types of functions and access to certain websites. Spector Pro can also be programmed to only record during certain times.
For the screen snapshots function, the format can be 4 bit grayscale, 4 bit color, 8 bit color, 16 bit color, 24 bit color, or 32 bit color. I use 16 bit color and it’s a great picture that I can really tell what they were looking at on websites with no problem. Spector Pro can be adjusted to take screen snapshots for a wide variety of time - I left it at the default setting of every 30 seconds. This part of the program will also timeout after a period of time. Again, I left it at the default of 3 minutes.
One thing to keep in mind is that the minute you give away that you have Spector Pro on the computer, the person using that computer will probably stop doing whatever activity you might have a problem with. How you approach the situation might be critical. I was able to take information I gleaned from the recording of her AOL Instant Messenger sessions and approach it from a different angle so she didn’t know I had gotten it from what she had said on the computer. At one point my daughter must have become suspicious because I saw her running scans for “spyware”. At no point did Spector Pro come up in any of these scans. It runs in such a way that it’s pretty impossible to find on the computer. If nothing else, I learned that any computer in a public setting should be password protected right at the boot screen so no one could put this on without your knowledge. Of course, this doesn’t apply to work situations where someone might want to monitor what their workers do on the computer all day.
Spector Pro is available for Mac or PC. The version I have is for the PC. System requirements are Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP; Pentium-based processor running at 200 MHz or faster; minimum 32MB RAM, 64 MB or higher for best performance; 10-20 MB of disk space for a typical day of recording. This last number will vary based on computer activity on a given day and the resolution at which you choose to record. Then you should multiply the approximate number by the number of days you keep in the memory of Spector Pro. The program will also help you calculate the usage needed in the settings area.
I know too many parents who are totally clueless when it comes to computers and basically let their kids run wild on the Internet with little or no supervision. Even not being that kind of parent, I found Spector Pro invaluable. There are too many frightening stories of kids getting stupid and giving out information or acting in a way that’s irresponsible. Teenagers are teenagers and the fact that I remember how I was at that age and what I would have done had I had the access to computers the way kids do now frightens me. I feel much better with this installed on the computer my children use.
© 2006 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
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